In 1990, in the Mbuji-Mayi district of Zaire, an alluvial digger discovered a perfect rough diamond weighing 777 carats. He approached a local De Beers buyer, who immediately recognized the diamond’s extraordinary beauty and purchased it.
Today, it is known as the DeBeers Millennium Star Diamond. It is the second largest known top-color diamond in the world and is insured for $100 million. It took three years to cut the rough diamond into its flawless, pear shape of 203.04 carats.
That’s right. They cut 573.96 carats off the original diamond. In other words, the stone cutters removed approximately 75% of the original stone to get to the flawless heart and shape of the diamond.
What the stone cutters removed were still diamonds and were probably used in other pieces of jewelry. But, there was something about those other pieces that needed to be removed. Perhaps, they contained flaws. Perhaps they were flawless, but were not located within the Millennium Star’s perfect shape.
I frequently remind myself of this stone whenever I am editing something I have written.
Like many writers, I spend much time creating what I feel are amazing descriptions, passages, scenes, or dialogue. The thought of cutting these from my writing feels akin to betrayal. I remind myself that, while these words or phrases might be beautiful and evocative and – in my opinion – inspired, if they do not contribute to the overall beauty of the story, the article, or the play, I have to cut them.
However, just because I cut them does not mean the word, phrase, description, or scene has no value or beauty. I often add these words or passages to my ‘Writer’s Dictionary’ a document I set up on my computer with a list of words, phrases, and descriptions I have either written or come across in my reading. Whenever I am writing, I refer to this dictionary for inspiration.
At the right time, these writing diamonds will become a beautiful part of another manuscript.